2. Membership. The commission consists of 9 members appointed by the Governor. The membership of the commission must reflect the geographic diversity of the State. The Governor shall appoint the chair from among the membership. Members serve as volunteers and without compensation or reimbursement for expenses. The membership consists of the following persons:

A. Two persons representing community hospitals chosen from a list submitted by a statewide association representing hospitals;

B. One person representing consumers of health care services;

C. Two persons representing physicians chosen from lists submitted by statewide associations representing allopathic and osteopathic physicians;

D. One person representing employers;

E. One person representing insurers or other 3rd-party payors of health care services;

F. One economist familiar with econometric modeling of health care systems and the analysis and forecasting of health care costs; and

G. One person who has expertise in public health issues.

3. Duties. The commission shall consider the challenges of community hospitals and must be guided by the purposes outlined in subsection 1. The commission may:

A. Hold at least 2 public hearings to collect information from individuals, hospitals, health care providers, insurers, 3rd-party payors, government-sponsored health care programs and interested organizations;

B. Consult with experts in the fields of health care and hospitals and public policy; and

C. Examine any other issues to further the purposes of the study.